Whether you know him from the hit show “Pose” or from his extensive Broadway career, Billy Porter is a style icon living by his own rules. Carpet after carpet he seems to outdo himself, serving jaw-dropping looks to obsess over.
Each and every one of Billy’s ensembles has a story behind it; He really makes sure that every detail has a narrative behind it. In an interview with Women’s Wear Daily, Porter said, “We as artists have the power to change the molecular structure inside of people and change their hearts and minds. Fashion is art and fashion can make that change, and I always knew it.”
This award season, he has once again proven his power and influence on the carpet. His appearance at events is highly anticipated, and heads are guaranteed to turn. From the Golden Globes, Critics Choice, GRAMMYs and the upcoming Oscars, Billy Porter makes his mark through fashion in such a beautiful and unique way.
The 77th Golden Globes were one to remember, all thanks to Billy’s elegant white tuxedo designed by Alex Vinash. An extravagant zip-off feather train with wings transformed this look into something magical. The piece took Vinash three months to create due to the fragile feathers and intricate train. He also wore Jimmy Choo boots and angelic jewelry from Tiffany & Co worth over $2 million dollars!
Just when you thought it could not get any better…it sure did. Billy came to the 25th Critics’ Choice Awards to make a statement. He wore a two-toned mint jumpsuit designed by Hogan McLaughlin and chose to accessorize with silver jewelry, bright yellow nails, and subtle yellow eyeliner. To make this look even more spectacular, he covered his arms, chest and back in colorful hand-painted butterflies.
Billy described the touching story behind the design in a caption on Instagram.
“Being released from the bondage of masculinity and flying free. Just like the beautiful ladies from @poseonfx, we are often born into one stage of life and then cocoon into an incubation of self-discovery, transformation, and acceptance, ultimately being released into freedom as beautiful creatures,” he wrote.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight he added that “the butterflies are a symbol of the transgender community.”
No amount of praise or recognition could do Billy’s GRAMMYs outfit justice. The star opted for a turquoise studded jacket-jumpsuit designed by Scott Studenberg, paired with a now-iconic crystal fringe hat designed by Sarah Sokol Millinery. The hat was able to open and close, making a curtain around Billy’s face, all thanks to a creative innovation from Smooth Technology.
Although the look was on point, it was his makeup that truly brought this look to another level. Billy wore a metallic blue shade on his eyes and lips that perfectly matched his outfit.
Billy owned this night and made it his own. He brought a fun spirit to the carpet by opening and closing the “privacy screen” whenever he pleased. This was definitely one of his fiercest, yet playful looks so far.
Billy got all the attention on GRAMMY night, as his hat was instantly turned into a relatable meme across all social media platforms. He himself even tweeted, “Get on my nerves, and the curtain closes!”
If Billy Porter walks the Oscars red carpet, we are certainly in for another fashion-lover’s dream. He was the talking-point of last year’s Oscars after he broke boundaries by wearing a tuxedo jacket overtop a black velvet ball gown designed by Christian Siriano.
